Airborne 12.09.16

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Airborne 12.09.16

Latin American Low-Cost Carrier Adopts SAFUG Guidelines

GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes
S.A., a low-cost and low-fare airline in Latin America, has joined
the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG), which unites
airlines and technology providers in a joint drive to accelerate
the development of new, sustainable aviation fuels for commercial
use.

Initially, the group is working on two preliminary
sustainability research projects, one of which involves a
comprehensive investigation into Jatropha curcas as a sustainable
fuel source, including its life cycle, CO2 emissions and the
potential social or economic impact on growers in developing
countries. The second project is taking an in-depth look at algae
and the associated fuel production processes, to ensure they are in
line with strict sustainability guidelines. Both Jatropha curcas
and algae have the potential to become viable biomass aviation fuel
sources. The group plans additional studies on other possible fuel
sources in the future.

In addition to actively working to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, GOL is now also investing in reducing its future fuel
costs. "This is a major opportunity for GOL to join a select group
of aviation companies actively involved in controlling their own
future, particularly around fuel and the entire fuel production
process, including origin, sustainability and environmental
impact," says GOL's Technical Vice President, Fernando Rockert de
Magalhaes.

In joining the group, GOL adopts
the premise that any sustainable biofuel must have an equal or
superior performance to that of kerosene, but with reduced CO2
emissions. Additionally, the group stipulates that new biofuels can
only be produced from renewable sources that minimize the impact on
biodiversity and do not compete with food production or the
production of drinking water. SAFUG also requires that the
development of new crops for biofuel production should bring social
and economic benefits to the communities involved.

Among the affiliates of the SAFUG program and a supporter of the
initiative is Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA), which manufactures
and provides equipment for GOL's standardized fleet of Boeing
737-700 and 800 NGs. The company will provide technical support for
the development of the new fuels. "Our top priority is to carry out
and conduct research into sustainable fuel sources. This includes
research into plants as well as their cultivation, harvesting and
economic impact, all of which can help us achieve our goal,"
affirmed Billy Glover, BCA's Managing Director for Environmental
Strategy.